Priestley at Kissing Tree House

Priestley at Kissing Tree House Limited Edition Hardback

A Memoir by Rosalie Batten – J.B. Priestley’s Personal Secretary 1968-1984

****
‘a very fine piece of writing… quirky, affectionate, unassuming, honest, subtle and, perhaps above all, pin-sharp.’ Craig Brown, Mail on Sunday

Limited Edition Hardback
Only 100 copies printed of this hardback edition.

Forewords by Tom Priestley, Nicolas Hawkes and Susan Cooper

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Also available on Kindle

SKU: 978-1-912101-93-1 Categories: ,

Product Description

“Candid, elegantly written, affectionate, this marvellous and readable memoir gives we Priestley acolytes a genuine flavour of real life with the man. But it’s also a revealing insight into the literary and personal life of a celebrated man of letters in the last phase of a glorious career.” Stuart Maconie

“Honest, with flashes of humour, a sparkling eye for detail and touching affection, the memoir is a fascinating insight into his life. Reading it feels as though he is with you in the room.” Emma Clayton, The Telegraph and Argus

“Lost memoir reveals playwright’s vanities and key friendships… Batten’s reminiscences brim with their sometimes flirtatious exchanges and also expose Priestley’s professional frustrations.” Vanessa Thorpe, The Observer

Hidden away for over 30 years and only just come to light – the book reveals Priestley’s daily routines, his writing habits, hobbies, weaknesses, eccentricities and his correspondence with a variety of organisations and people, including family, and other renowned figures of the twentieth century; a warts and all portrait, truthful, revealing, moving.

A unique, warm and intimate portrait of the private, hidden life, of one of the twentieth century’s most widely read authors and great public figures. The book reveals Priestley’s daily routines, his writing habits, hobbies, weaknesses, eccentricities and his correspondence with a variety of organisations and people, including family, and other renowned figures of the twentieth century; a warts and all portrait, truthful, revealing, moving. A book which in the end, displays great love for its subject.

“One day I very much hope that Mrs. Batten will write a book about me because, as I have pointed out to her, she knows me better than anyone else who might want to write such a book.” J.B. Priestley, 26th June, 1979

“I have done my best and can only add the message that I put on my funeral flowers, that it comes with admiration, hope and love.” Rosalie Batten

“Priestley clearly encouraged Mrs. Batten to write a book about him. And now we find that she did, with great affection, after he died. He’d have been pleased.” Susan Cooper

Additional Information

Weight 451 g
ISBN

978-1-912101-93-1

Size

197 x 128mm.

No of Pages

272

Format

Hardback